Method of and apparatus for obtaining fiber material from stalks



June 4, 1929. E. GMVINDERP 7 A 1 METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR OBTAINING FIBER MATERIAL FROM STALKS Filed March 10, 1927 Patented June 4, 1929. p I

UNITED STA res PATENT oF I-ce- V EMIL GMINDER, OF REUTLINGEN, GERMANY.

METHOD OF AND AREARATUS ,FOR OBTAINING FIBER MATERIAL FROM .STALKS. I

Application filed March 10, 1927, Serial No. 174,307, and in Germany March 13, 1926.

My invention relates to improvements in the method of and apparatus for obtaining fiber material from stalks, and more particularly in the method in which the fiber material is obtained fromthe dry stalks. For stretching the material between rollers it is necessary that the length of the sections of the cut stalks is smaller than the distance between pairs of cooperating drawing rollers. In my improved process the stalks together with their leaves and seeds are continuously cut into pieces of the desired length, which length is smaller than the distance between the pairs of cooperating drawing rollers, whereupon the stalks are broken, beaten and afterwards cleaned for separating the fiben from the other parts such as wood, the whole operation on the stalks being performed before otherwisemechanically treating the same. After having cut the stalks into pieces of the desired length the said pieces are separated into different masses one mass comprising the pieces which are suitable for direct further treatment, and which are taken from the stalks proper, while the other mass comprises the pieces containing the heads, seeds and leaf portions of the stalks, and which therefore are unsuitable for being directly subjected to the further treatment. The said pieces which are not suitable for direct further treatment are first passed through a thrashing machine, whereupon they are combined with the directly suitable material for being subjected. therewith to the further treatment.

For carrying out my improved method I make use of an apparatus comprising a pair of endless conveyer tapes each composed of a plurality of parallel sectional tapes and having cooperating branches tapering from their intake end towards their delivery end, the said operative branches being adapted to convey the stalks supplied thereto in transverse direction to disintegrating apparatus such for example as cutting blades or saws intersecting the said tapes and disposed between the sectional tapes. Preferably the upper branch of the lower tape is supported on a rigid table formed with slots for the passage of the saws or blades therethrough. Below I the delivery end of the said conveyer tapes there are conveying bands which are prefer-- ably disposed transversely of the conveyer tapes and in alignment with each other and which extend from a median part of the said delivery end outwardly and to opposite sides, the said bands being driven so that the upper -tion an example embodying the same has been shown in the accompanying drawing in which the same letters of reference have been used in all the views to indicate corresponding parts. In said drawing,

Fig. 1, is a diagrammatical elevation showing the conveyer tapes and the conveyer bands disposed transversely below the same,

and

Fig. 2, is an elevation looking from the right in Fig. '1 and showing in addition breakingand beating means.

In the example shown in the figures my improved apparatus comprises a pair of cooperating conveyer tapes 9 and 10 each composed of six sectional conveyer tapes havin received in Fig. 2 the reference characters II, III, IV, V and VI. The lower tape 9 is trained on a driving drum 2 and a loose drum 1, and the upper conveyer tape is trained on a' driving drum 3 and a loose drum 4, drums 5 and 6 being provided for putting the tapes under tension. The drums 1 and 2 .are provided at their ends with flanges 12 adapted to hold the individual tapes in. po

sition. The direction of the movement of the tapes has been indicated in,Fig. 1 by arrows :1:, and as shown, the coo erating branches of the tapes taper inwar 1 from the intake end towards the delivery en thereof, thus roviding a mouth ada ted to receive the stal IS. Below the upper ranch of the lower tape 9 there is a ta le 8 provided with longitudinal grooves or made in sectionsplaced one beside the other and corresponding in breadth to the breadth of the sectional tapes I .VI. On the said tables cutting members such as disk-shaped saws 7 are mounted, which extend upwardly through the table 8 and between the spaces provided between the sectional tapes. At the rear of the table 8 and the saws 7, the tapes 9 and 10 approach each other more and more, and finally, both tapes are passed over the drum 2. In the example a v hine 130 tbns istsgbf abeating} (immensity: ing' fribsl'or 126' and Q0peratihg fwith ls i .pi i

' ndibelowtl land leith e jiiathra h emd i 11 ,l I

are e ransve ly shown theligures the axes of the drums 2 and 3 are.fdisposedfitthe sameiheightfbut I.

do not limit myself to this 'fea'tiire'. In the preferred construction the distance between the tapes 9 and 10 movin over-the-drnms 2; and 3 is equal to the thic mess of the stalks.

B'ut-iI ido notzlimit myself to thistfeature; .-.u ;-.'T.:. 9.

suitable mechanism" so that their ';,i1 p'per.

branches travel outwardly and in "opposite directions ashasbeenjindicated by'the ar-' rows p and 12 As sliown',the adjacent or intake ends of the bands 13 and 14; are located below the leftpart of the tapes 9 and 10, and

' thestalks are placed on the tape 9 so .that'the heads and seeds are located at the left hand side of Fig. 2 and deliveredtheretrom tothe" conveyer band'14 for beingcarri'ed thereby to the 'conveyerband 13 for being carried thereby tothe right. Atthe'deliveryend of 7 the'band 13 thereare pairsof breaking roll-'1 ers 15 and 16, and at the rear thereof arbeatr or scntching apparatus '17which is preferably-in the formof "Crighton opener, and which is provided within conical foramina'te'd' drum carr ing pins 18.

Below t e drnms 2 and 3 and between intakeends of the bands 12 namthere is rockahle gate 19, which ,is adapted to 'be rockedi more or less from its V vertical p osition to the "right or" left for 'dire'cting' the j ciit b inapr i e *i q t sa j livi ryi en for thjr wing thematerial into thethr'ashingf machine; j Ireierablythe thrashin'g nia} 222mm t 1n the said drum' s nglencl said machine the tom oi the 101161315: and .16; and fromf the ilatt'efrj to the s have been monnted in spacedlaxial alignment, ineansf or lks *s dew'ise past said saws to 1 1. convey n of I a length less 'fmeans in thepathofimoveme f v r .for siibdivi'dingthem into f'dtions at length distance between the? cqe ifa ing'ip i lse i retain s "se 1 t' tll mittedtothe I p M lessjtha'n the ma 7 tion of the piecesofbymeans oflthet'gate 19f' 'EWitliinrstheseutching drulnl'i'the scntchei a'dts on tliepieces of -t-he-stalksand removes most of the Woody partieles previonsly broken by the breaking rollers 15 and 16. In this operation the pins F218 haveiacardingiaction.

The head pieces falling on passed-below the roller 20" andi'into the thrashing apparatus 30 in which the seeds thereby to the "right and in the direction of i take end of thefband 13 by meansoTlnvhieh they are carried to the breaking rollers1'5 the'arrow pf. Finally the said-thrashedpor- "tions pass between the roller 25'and the'inand 16 and the followingapparatus. .Thiis V v p 1 I I v p the said thrashed-stalks are-broken, beaten to theleft, while the cut stalks are" delivered and cleaned together With the pieces'which ratusi' directly carried to the said appa While in describing 'the invention refer ence has 'been'made to a particular example embodying the same I wish it 'to be nnder- 7f "stood thatfniyiriventi'on isunot limitedto the method and apparatns describedherein, 7 and that various modifications may be m de in p the' operation and the general 'arran'gement v of the apparatus and the construction ot1ts "parts without cl'p 'ting 'from the invention.

cut stalks sections j th'an theiiiammum-i distance between theco breaker rolls a a msee ntev rollers a conveyor on' 'p'arallel to the axis of Y eivi g said sections; *and and means for delivering the sections endwise to said breaking means from said first mentioned means. 1

5. An apparatus for making fiber material from stalks, comprising apparatus for separating the fiber material from the stalks, a pair of endless conveyer tapes having cooperating conveying branches and each composed. of a plurality of parallel sectional tapes, driving means for said tapes, and saws 2 intersecting the said cooperating branches and disposed between the sectional tapes thereof.

6. An apparatus for making fiber material from stalks, comprising apparatus for separating the fiber material from the stalks, a pairot' endless conveyer tapes having cooperating conveying branches tapering from the inlet end to the delivery end and composed of a plurality of parallel sectional tapes, driving means for said tapes, and sa-ws intersectmg the said cooperating branches and disposed between the sectional tapes thereof.

7. Anapparatus for making. fiber material from stalks, comprising apparatus for separating the fiber material from the stalks, a pair of endless conveyer tapes having cooperatin conveying branches tapering from the in ct end to the delivery end and each composed of a pluralit of parallel sectional tapes, driving means or said tapes, a table disposed below and in position for supporting the lower one of the said cooperating branches, and saws intersecting the said table and cooperating branches and disposed between the sectional tapes thereof.

8. An a paratus for making fiber material from stal 5, comprising apparatus for separ ting'the fiber material from the stalks, a p ir of endless conveyer tapes having cooperating conveying branches tapering from the inlet end to the'delivery end and each com posed of a plurality of parallel sectional tapes, said cooperating branches having their delivery portions in close proximity, driving means for said tapes, and saws-intersecting the said cooperating branches and disposed between the sectional tapes thereof.

9. An apparatus for making fiber material from stalks, including a pair of endless con.-

veyer tapes having cooperating conveying branches tapering from the inlet end to the delivery end and composed of a plurality of parallel sectional tapes, the distance between the portions of said cooperating branches at the delivery end thereof being substantially equal to the thickness of the stalks, driving means for said tapes, and saws intersecting the said cooperating branches and disposed between the sectional tapes thereof.

10. An apparatus for making fiber mate rial from stalks, including a pair of endless conveyertapcs having cooperating conveying branches composed of a plurality of parallel sectional tapes, driving means for said tapes, saws intersecting the said cooperating branches and disposed between the sectional tapes thereof, two conveyer bands disposed at the delivery end of said cooperating branches transversely thereof and extending from a median part of the delivery end outwardly and in position for receiving different portions of the cut stalks, and driving means for said bands adapted to move the upper branches outwardly from said tapes and in opposite directions.

11. An apparatus for making fiber material froni stalks, including a pair of endless conveyer tapes having cooperating conveying branches composed of a plurality of parallel sectional tapes, driving means for said tapes, saws intersecting the said cooperating branches and disposed between the sectional tapes thereof, two conveyer bands disposed at the delivery end of said cooperating branches transversely thereof and extending from a median part of the delivery end outwardly and in position for receiving different portions of the cut stalks, driving means for said bands adapted to move the upper branches outwardly from said tapes and in opposite directions, and a rockable gate disposed below the delivery end of said tapes and in position for directing the portions of the cut stalks respectively to said conveyer bands.

12. An apparatus for making fiber material from stalks, comprising endless conveyer tapes composed of a plurality of parallel seca tional tapes, driving means for said tapes,

saws disposed between the sectional tapes thereof, two conveyer bands disposed at the delivery end of said cooperating branches transversely thereof and extending from a median part of the delivery end outwardly and in position for receiving different portions of the cut stalks, driving means for said bands adapted to move the upper branches outwardly from said tapes and in opposite directions, and breaking means and scutching means in the form-of a Crighton opener located at the delivery end of one of said conveyer bands, said scutching means comprising a foraminated casing provided internally with pins.

e a oatwaany ana' ia posaiba fonreceivin 13. An apparatus for making fiber ma- 'terial-fl from stalks, com'prising endless conj veyer tapes c'omposed Ora plurality (of par:

allel sectional tapes, driving means 'for:' said tapes, sa'ws disposed 1 between the sectional' tapes thereof, "two conveyor 5 bands disposed'f at the i delivery end 01"- said cooperating opposite dire'cti the deliveryend of the other'one of said oonveyerbands, and means for carrying the thrashed pieces from-J said thrashing means to sald hreak1ng,'scutch1ng and cleaning means; a

'14. An apparatus for making fiber'mat'erial from stalks, comprising conveyor mem-" bers,-cuttingmeans disposed between adjacentmembers for subdividing the stalks intosec tions, two conveyer bands disposed "at the delivery end of said conveyer member'strans-- versely thereof-and extending froma median part -of the delivery endoutwar'dly and in; p position for receiving difi'erentportions of the-cut stalks,'drivingj'means for said bands adapted'to movethe upper branches out wardly from said tapes and-in opposite di.-

rections',thrashing means at the delivery end of one of-said conv'eyer 'bands',fbreaking' "sc'u tchin'g' and cleaning means at the delivery end of the other one 'of said'conveyer=bands{ and means for carrying the thrashed pieces- 1 from said thrashing meanstosaid breaking; scutch'ing and cleaning means, said -thrash-- ing means coinprisinga casing provided internally with projecting portions "anda I v 1 one d rection and-the sections formed from the top oftlie"stalk*endvvise in the opposite discutching drum rotatable thereinl i '15.' An apparatus for-making conveyer bands disposed at the delivery end offsaid tapes transverselv thereof and ex tendinfilfrom a medianpartot"the-delivery; a d1rect1on"andthe sectlons formed from the top of the stalkend'vvi'se in another direction, fmeing the 'second mentioned sections from eeds and -leaves,and delivering the stalk diflerent 'portions [of oldest stalks;fs rivin means I for {bands adapted to 2 move- 'th rip riib anfe s rew s as -ere I romfsaid' "thra Paratusj r, nmlkillfL fib mats;

fiber mate-Q Irial' from stalks,comprisin endless conveyer tapes,'drivingmeans for said tapes, saWs 'dis' posed between the sectional tapes thereof,-'twb one-of said conveyer chin'g and -='-='c1eani1ig "end'of'th otherone '1 a, formed fromthe body of the stalk endwise in Siti' n-fffdr Ear 'ing:oneilirectionandthdsections formed from f front parts thereof as the 5 first mentioned sections,

tapes, driving means for said tapes, saws dis-' poscd bet1veen the sectional tapes thereof, two conveyer bands'disposed at the delivery end Eofsaid'tap'es transversely thereof and extcndingi'from' amedian part of the delivery iend outavardly and in position for receiving "different-portions of the cut stalks, driving means for said bands adapted to move the upper lbr'anches outwardly from said tapes andiincpposite directions, thrashing means at-the'r'delivery end of one of said conveyer bands breaking, s'cutching and cleaning mea'ns at the delivery end of the other one of sai'df-conveyerbands, an endless conveyer band "located in position for carrying the thrashed pieces from said thrashingmeans to the: intake end of said first named conveyer bands, rollers disposed one above the delivery througlra breaker.

18.--The method of obtaining fiber mate rial" from stalks which includes feeding the stalks sidewis'epast a cutting apparatus to subdivide-them intosections, delivering the sect1ons endwise to and through a breaker, and thereafter subjecting them to the action of a scu'tchin'g device.

1 9. *Themethod of obtaining fiber material from stalks which includes delivering the -.stalks endwise, cutting them into sections during 'said delivery movement, moving the sect1ons"frointhebody of the stalk endwise in rection,*andseparately treating the sections delivered inopposite directions.

"ll-he methodpf obtaining fiber material from smlkswhivhi includes cutting the stalks into'secaons; delivering the sections formed from;f-t-lie body ofthe stalk endwise in one parts th'ereofito' the first mentioned sect-ions.

The "e'thbd ""of 'obtaining fiber mate- 's'taflks which includes cutting the into sections,};-delivering the sections *oftliestalk endwise in another direcreeing the second mentloned sections Seeds'and leaves, delivering the stalk ,end of said conveyor band leading to said stalks of the first mentioned sect-ions together with the stalks from the second mentioned sections, and thereafter subjecting them to theaction of a scutching device.

22. The method of obtaining fiber material from stalks which includes cutting the stalks into sections, thrashing the sections cut from the top of the stalks to free them from leaves and seeds, and delivering the stalk portions of said last mentioned sections to the stalk sections formed from the body of the stalk.

23. The method of obtaining fiber material from stalks which includes cutting the stalks into sections, thrashing the sections out from the top of the stalks to free them from leaves and seeds, delivering the stalk portions of said last mentioned sectioris to the stalk sections formed from the body of the stalk, and delivering all of said stalk sections to a breaker.

524.- The method of obtaining fiber material from stalks which includes cutting the stalks into sections, thrashing the sections cut from the top of the stalks to free them from leaves and seeds, delivering the stalk portions of said last mentioned sections to the stalk sections'formed from the body of the stalk, and delivering all of said stalk sections endwise through a breaker, and thereafter to a scutching device. 1

25. The niethodiof obtaining fiber material from stalks which includes cutting the stalks into sections, thrashing the sections cut from the tops of the stalks to remove seeds and leaves, delivering the thrashed stalk sections to the unthrashed stalk sections, and treating all of said stalk sections together by breaking and scutchingj In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature.

EMIL GMINDER. 

